Relationships are a beautiful part of life. Whether romantically or platonically, connecting with another human being is undoubtedly one of the best experiences that life has to offer.

Of course, within relationships, as with so many other things in life, change is inevitable. I doubt that there are very many of us, if any, who have maintained the exact same partner and/or core group of friends throughout the vast majority of our lives.

Despite this seemingly natural turnover, certain relationships seem to outlast many others, and I’ve come up with eight signs that I think suggest a particular relationship is worth keeping – but be sure to pay attention to the last one I mention, since it alone can override all of the other points and, in my opinion, is the most important.